Quote:
Originally Posted by Tamrajh
I've recently begun reading the New Testament for the first time and although I'm finding it quite interesting, I'm also confused by something. There are numerous references to Christ casting out evil spirits from people and even one where the evil spirits took over a herd or gathering of swine (pigs) who then went and drowned themselves.
I have numerous questions about this.
I thought we were protected from this type of thing happening because of the enmity between Satan and us so the only way this could happen was if we invited Satan into our bodies. Have I missed something here?
If it happened so often back then, can't it still be happening now? We dismiss the thought of possessions now and think people are just "crazy" but what if it really is a possession just the same as it was when Jesus walked the earth. Shouldn't there be something done the same as Christ did when he was here to help these people in a religious sense?
Thanks in advance for clearing this up for me. Even though I'm finding the New Testament very interesting, I'm really getting hung up on this possession part because it's very different from how we view things now.
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Are you referring to these references?
Luke 11 - ...not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. 5 And he said unto them, Which of you ... offer him a scorpion? 13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your ... to them that ask him? 14 P And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came...
Mark 9 - ...that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved ... thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. 19 He answereth him ... straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; ...
Mark 15 - ...the King of the Jews? 13 And they cried out again, Crucify him. 14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more ... put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. 21 And they compel one...
Matthew 27 - ...crucified. 23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more ... away to crucify him. 32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name ... crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which
Among the miracles Jesus performed on this Galilean tour was the casting out of a devil from a man who was blind and dumb. He also healed the man of his blindness and his inability to speak. (Matthew 12:22.) This great miracle amazed the people of the area and convinced them of Jesus' Messiahship. When word reached Jerusalem, however, the Pharisees came from Jerusalem to explain away the miracle. "Unless this and like miracles are explained away," Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote, "the priestcrafts of the priests will be replaced by a new order; the scribes and Pharisees must disabuse the public mind or lose their positions of power and influence over the people."
The miracle had been observed; it was an established incident. The Pharisees could not deny the miracle; therefore they had to find another explanation. They chose to attribute it to Satan. Little did they realize that this choice would draw from the Savior the great doctrine of the condemnation that comes upon those who choose to follow Satan, the one whom they were following in making such an accusation. Before presenting this doctrine, Jesus pointed out the absurdity of their accusation.
We have to allow the devils in through the door in order to possessed.